I'm very excited about the project...but nervous too. This is an exceptionally 'huge' challenge, but have had a very reassuring conversation with Collin (from Orient Koi Farm), and my concerns about water, filtration and fish transportation have been addressed by him.

Now to the physical work:
Excavation started on 11 June. Depth 900 (plus 400 above ground level). Length 5000. Width varies between 1600 and 3600. Free form.

Foundation area excavated a further 350(d) x 300(w). Reinforced with 2 'strands' of 10mm reinforced round bar....cast concrete foundation.
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Four days later threw 110mm floor, embedded in 193 mesh (5.6mm) which is attched to protruding supports from the foundation.
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Outer course of bricks set on foundation, and inner course on the floor. Built to height of 1300, with brickforce in every second layer of bricks. (9" wall).
Two 110mm bottom drains leading to settlement chamber 900(d)x900x600
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Following on Collin's good advice I have made provision for an 'above surface' venturi, 2 inlets at varying depths, and a cascade/ waterfall. A skimmer/weir has been added.

Anticipated volume 12 - 13000 litres.

I will try to post some pics, but I am generally 'PC illiterate'. I want to post the plan I did in Excel but don't know how to do this.
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Am I OK so far? Any further advice / comments will be appreciated

I thought we are in the mids of a depression but everybody is builing new ponds.
Very good to see.
Looks great Jack, I like it.

Just keep going Jack it looks very nice so far. Just remember to ask for more advice if you start to lose direction.

Thanks Jaco and Collin. The 'nice' worries me a liitle....more worried about structural soundness. The floor was cast a week ago, and the walls built on Saturday and Sunday. Tomorrow (Friday) the plastering should be complete. How long does the 'curing' take - before I can do the waterproofing?

If you put water proofing 7 days after you have plastered then every thing will be ok!
Just remember to keep on wetning the plaster and the floor it help to cure the plaster & floor better.

My pond was 'sufficiently' completed by 17 July, as I had to take the equipment and fish by the 18th July.
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Introduced fish on 18th
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Some fish
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"fish are jumpin' :
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A few small ones
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And 3 more:
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...and a photo for Bobby
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I just got back from work and I really liked your pond project until the last picture, I see you are trying to send me to bed with bad thoughts after such an emotional day you have to stir the emotions again.

Looks very good Jack, pictures of the filtration please.

I like the small Hariwake you purchased.

I will post the filtration pics as soon as I have completed 2 connections - 1 from the skimmer / weir, and the other to the waterfall (or rather cascade). After installing the new pump ( see my post on filtration ) I wanted to restore circulation asap. So only the basic filtration is running at the moment.